CEDAS - Connecticut Economic Development Association

What CEDAS - Connecticut Economic Development Association does

CEDAS, the Connecticut Economic Development Association, is a New Haven-based 501(c) professional membership association founded in 1962 that serves Connecticut's economic development practitioners, municipal development commissions, regional agencies, and allied private-sector partners. The organization is the principal convening body for the state's roughly 169 municipal economic development functions and provides training, networking events, an annual conference, a LinkedIn member community, a webinar series, and a Best Practices Certification Program launched in 2019 that credentials Connecticut economic development organizations against defined professional standards.

Its core products are membership tiers, the Best Practices Certification Program, sponsored events and webinars, and an awards program that includes the IEDC Excellence Award recognition. There is no proprietary technology platform described; the delivery model is conventional association programming with a small back-office staff of seven employees and administrative support hosted by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM).

Revenue is generated through individual, EDC, and organizational membership dues priced at $150, $40, and $500 respectively, corporate sponsorships from partners such as Eversource, BFJ Planning, the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, STV/DPM, and Goman+York, certification fees, and event registration. CEDAS operates in close partnership with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and AdvanceCT, which provides quasi-official standing within state economic development policy execution.

Name

CEDAS - Connecticut Economic Development Association

Legal name

Connecticut Economic Development Association, Inc.

Website

https://cedas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CEDAS is a Connecticut-based professional membership association founded in 1962 that serves the state's 169 municipalities, regional economic development organizations, and practitioners through training, events, a Best Practices Certification Program, and partnerships with state agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Haven

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CEDAS generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues from individual and organizational members. Individual membership is $150 per year, Economic Development Commission members pay $40, and organizational memberships cost $500 per year. Membership is renewed annually on a calendar year basis.
2. Best Practices Certification Program: The organization administers the Best Practices Certification Program for municipalities, which may generate revenue through application fees and sponsor partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CEDAS is a nonprofit professional association serving economic development practitioners and organizations in Connecticut. It delivers its value through membership services, professional development (webinars, certification programs, scholarships), networking events, an eNewsletter, technical assistance, and advocacy on behalf of the economic development profession in the state.

Product overview

CEDAS operates as a unified professional association rather than a platform-plus-modules structure. Its core offerings center on membership services, professional development programs (including The CEDAS Hour webinar series and IEDC-accredited educational seminars), the Best Practices Certification Program for municipalities, the Lisa M. Kolodziej Scholarship for training support, quarterly networking events with project tours, eNewsletter communications, and technical assistance. These products and services collectively support economic development professionals across Connecticut through education, recognition, networking, and resource sharing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CEDAS Membership Annual membership providing access to CEDAS programs, events, advocacy, networking, and professional development resources for economic development practitioners and organizations in Connecticut.
• CEDAS Webinars

Quantifiable outcome

• Twenty-four municipalities certified in inaugural Best Practices Program (2019)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered sponsor, core, major, secondary and regional.

• EversourcesponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2023Eversource served as a sponsor of the 2023 Best Practices Certification Program. Utility company sponsorship supports the program's cost of administration and awards ceremony.
• BFJ PlanningsponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2023BFJ Planning served as a presenting sponsor for the 2023 Best Practices Certification Program. Planning firm involvement aligns with the program's land use planning component.
• Greater New Haven Chamber of CommercesponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2023Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce served as a presenting sponsor for the 2023 Best Practices Certification Program and 2022 program. Chamber support demonstrates regional business community endorsement.
• STV/DPMsponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2023STV/DPM served as a presenting sponsor for the 2023 Best Practices Certification Program. Engineering and architectural firm's sponsorship supports program administration.
• Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEDAS works closely with DECD to foster sustained economic growth within Connecticut through support of legislation, exchange of information, and co-sponsorship of economic development events. DECD Commissioner Daniel O'Keefe has participated in CEDAS Hour fireside chat video series.
• AdvanceCT (formerly Connecticut Economic Resource Center - CERC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEDAS collaborates with AdvanceCT, the state's economic development marketing organization, for joint initiatives and information exchange. AdvanceCT provides economic data and business attraction services that complement CEDAS member activities.
• Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEDAS is hosted c/o CCM and co-hosts events including the CCM Convention. CEDAS President presents at the annual CCM Convention at Mohegan Sun. CCM provides administrative support and collaboration on municipal issues.
• Connecticut Main Street CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEDAS partners with Connecticut Main Street Center on downtown revitalization initiatives. Joint events include webinars like 'Building Strong Downtowns: Main Street 101 & Strategic Planning'. Executive Director Michelle McCabe serves as CEDAS 2nd Vice President.
• Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association (CCAPA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCAPA collaborated with CEDAS on developing the Best Practices Certification Program criteria, providing input from municipal planners across the state. This partnership ensures the program meets both economic development and planning professional standards.
• International Economic Development Council (IEDC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEDAS participates in IEDC initiatives including Economic Development Week (created by IEDC in 2016). CEDAS offers professional development seminars accredited through IEDC. CEDAS received IEDC's Excellence in Economic Development Award.
• Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA)secondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCBIA is listed as a private economic development organization resource for CEDAS members, providing business and industry perspective on Connecticut economic development.
• MetroHartford AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetroHartford Alliance collaborates with CEDAS on regional economic development initiatives. Gene Goddard serves on the CEDAS Board as Chief Business Investment Officer at MetroHartford Alliance. Joint studies include the CohnReznick business cost analysis comparing Hartford Region to peer metros.
• Goman+York Property AdvisorssponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoman+York Property Advisors served as a program sponsor for the 2026 Best Practices Certification Program. SVP Gioia Zack serves on the CEDAS Board of Directors.
• Connecticut Innovations (CI)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a public economic development organization resource. CI is the state's venture capital arm and technology lender, providing investment services relevant to CEDAS members.
• Connecticut Green BanksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a private economic development organization resource. Connecticut Green Bank provides clean energy financing that intersects with sustainable economic development goals.
• Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region (seCTer)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerseCTer serves as a regional economic development organization listed as a resource for CEDAS members. Paul Whitescarver, seCTer Executive Director, participates in CEDAS Economic Development Week events.
• Housatonic Industrial Development Corp. (HIDC)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIDC is listed as a private economic development organization serving the Housatonic region of Connecticut, supporting industrial development efforts.
• Connecticut Technology CouncilsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a private economic development organization resource for CEDAS members focused on technology sector development in Connecticut.
• CURE (Connecticut's BioScience Cluster)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a private economic development organization resource for CEDAS members in the bioscience/life sciences sector.
• Northeastern Economic Developers Association (NEDA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEDA is a regional economic development association providing networking opportunities for CEDAS members beyond Connecticut.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA): Connecticut's statewide business and industry association. CBIA is listed as a CEDAS member resource and both organizations serve overlapping Connecticut business and economic development audiences.
• Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM): CEDAS is hosted c/o CCM and the two co-host events including the CCM Convention. CCM serves Connecticut municipal officials broadly, while CEDAS focuses specifically on economic development professionals within that municipal ecosystem — overlapping membership and complementary missions.
• Connecticut Main Street Center: Connecticut-focused downtown revitalization organization whose Executive Director serves as CEDAS 2nd Vice President. Both organizations share Connecticut municipal audiences focused on economic development and downtown vitality, and jointly host programming such as 'Building Strong Downtowns' webinars.
• AdvanceCT: Connecticut's state economic development marketing organization (formerly CERC). CEDAS collaborates with AdvanceCT on joint initiatives and information exchange, and a former CERC staffer serves as CEDAS President. Both serve Connecticut economic development stakeholders.
• American Planning Association – Connecticut Chapter (CCAPA): State chapter of APA serving Connecticut planners. CCAPA collaborated with CEDAS on Best Practices Certification Program criteria. Both serve municipal planning/economic development professionals in Connecticut with overlapping membership.

Regional players

• MetroHartford Alliance: Regional economic development organization serving the Hartford region of Connecticut. Shares CEDAS's audience of municipal economic development practitioners and corporate partners, and conducts joint research such as the CohnReznick business cost analysis.
• Northeastern Economic Developers Association (NEDA): Regional economic development association serving the northeastern U.S. Both CEDAS and NEDA serve economic development practitioners with networking, conferences, and professional development, but NEDA covers a multi-state region rather than a single state.
• Maine Development Foundation: Statewide private non-profit supporting economic development and policy in Maine. Operates the same model as CEDAS — a state-level professional association providing convening, research, and policy advocacy for economic development practitioners — but in a different state.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of State Development Agencies (NASDA): National association representing state economic development agencies. Shares CEDAS's mission of advancing economic development practice and policy, but operates at the state-agency level rather than municipal-practitioner level.
• International Economic Development Council (IEDC): The largest international membership association for economic development professionals. Directly comparable mission — professional development, certification, advocacy — but operates globally rather than within Connecticut, and is the body that accredited CEDAS programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connecticut-economic-development-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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